This is my third version of this particular top and I very much like the first two hence I decided to make another. Well actually this is an exact copy of my original burn out velvet outfit I made last year but the skirt is yet to be completed. I have cut it out and its pinned together but the sewing needs finishing off etc.
The fabric is lovely burned out velvet fabric in navy blue tiger stripes. Bargain price too. But absolute hell to sew. It slips and moves and then catches on the foot bed. The overlocker hated it, the machine hated it. The hems are rubbish ( and roll!) but its hard to tell. I know though, but no point unpicking them because I would likely reck the delicate fabric and even if I managed to unpick I suspect I cannot make a better job of sewing this stuff. Maybe a band of ribbing on the bottom of the top would work better but it would not give the look I wanted.
Ah well!
You can also see my dodgy hemming in this photo. I decided not to unpick due to the hard to see fabric/ stitching and its so delicate I will likely wreck the top. Also in all honesty I do not expect I can do better if I resew. This fabric is just so difficult to sew up. The edges roll as you sew. In fact you name what can go wrong when sewing a stretch fabric and this stuff does it! Its certainly not a beginner fabric except for the price because at £2 a meter you could realistically buy several metres and by the time you get it sewn you would be really good at sewing I think. The large quantity would also ensure you actually got an outfit from it. Its so tempting to buy more. Its so lovely but its also so awful to sew up. I think this could also make a really nice mesh curtain though!
You can see the top of the puffed sleeves here. They are made in two parts so you have a short puffed sleeve with a long cuff.
This top takes a very small amount of fabric because when I made top 2 had only 1m of the troll fabric and I actually also made a child's top from some left overs so its a great pattern if you have either offcuts or a single metre to go at. I am already looking through my stashed fabric to make another top in this pattern. More on that, maybe, if I get round to it. Its a nice top to wear though and has extra long sleeves which I like. Yes, you can lengthen sleeves but its nice to not have to remember I want to.
Hopefully, I will get the skirt finished soon because I am loathe to wear the top alone and wear it out and its turned out so lovely I really want the matching skirt.
The fabric is still available last time I looked from Pound Fabrics and is just £2 a metre. You have to buy 3m though but to make this (outfit with matching skirt) I need almost all of it. But then £6 for an outfit that I think will be really special is a real bargain. There is a small bit left which would make another top or vest but I daredn't cut it until I find out the skirt works. I would hate to cut it then need to recut a part of the skirt and not have the fabric for that when I need it and so ruin a garment. It has happened to me before!
But I would buy this top if I saw it for sale and did not make my own clothes and I would pay lots for it because its really that nice. I like a lot of what I make but this top really has turned out to be a bit special.
But this particular fabric is so hard to sew it will be a relief to get the skirt sewn up. I am actually apprehensive to start to sew it in case I ruin it. I do not intend to buy more of this stuff despite how much I like it and the bargain price. I did consider buying more when it arrived and was so lovely but really I do not have the skills for this fabric. I have scraped in with a very nice but imperfect top and I am happy with that but I do not think I will risk trying any more difficult clothes from this fabric. I will just move on to something in a fabric that is (hopefully) easier to sew.
I will hopefully finish the skirt in the next couple of days and then see how it looks. I have high hopes.
Have a lovely week and thanks for popping by and visiting my blog,
Bracken
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